Former U.S. Senator

Tom HarkinNo longer serving

State IA Party Democratic In office 1975–2015

Fact sheet Spreadsheet

Bills introduced

369

As sponsor, from the 107th Congress

Became law

Of the bills they introduced

Cosponsored

1,657

Signed on to someone else's bill

Recorded votes

2,256

Roll calls tied to a bill

Floor speeches

1,905

In the Congressional Record, from 2001

369 bills introduced

Across 7 Congresses, most in the 110th at 68. In the 113th, 60 — 28 more than the median senator, who filed 32. Volume is not influence: the great majority of bills, from every member, never get a vote.

Bills introduced, against the typical senator 107th to 113th

median for the chamber, that Congress

Biography

A Senator and a Representative from Iowa. Born in Cumming, Warren County, Iowa, November 19, 1939. Attended the public schools. Graduated, Iowa State University, Ames 1962. Graduated, Catholic University of America Law School, Washington, D. C. 1972. Admitted to the Iowa bar in 1972 and commenced practice in Des Moines. Served in United States Navy 1962-1967, and Naval reserve 1968-1974. Attorney for Polk County, Iowa, Legal Aid Society 1973. Member, board of directors, Iowa Consumers League. Elected in 1974 as a Democrat to the Ninety-fourth Congress. Reelected to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1975-January 3, 1985). Was not a candidate for reelection in 1984 to the House of Representatives, but was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1984. Reelected in 1990, 1996, 2002, and again in 2008, and served from January 3, 1985, to January 3, 2015. Chair, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 3-20, 2001. June 6, 2001-January 3, 2003], One Hundred Tenth Congress, and One Hundred Eleventh Congress [January 3, 2009-September 9, 2009]), Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (One Hundred Eleventh [September 9, 2009-January 3, 2011] to One Hundred Thirteenth Congresses). Was not a candidate for reelection to the Senate in 2014.

Focus

Drawn from the 369 bills this member introduced: the subjects the record assigns them, and the members who most often sign on.

Subjects

Bills carry several subjects each, so these add up to more than 369.

Most frequent cosponsors

Times each has cosponsored a bill this member introduced.

Record

Every recorded vote, bill and floor speech, newest first.

Search these bills

Congress

Recorded votes tied to a bill, including procedural motions on it such as cloture. Votes on nominations are not listed.

Bill	Question	Voted	Date
HR 5771	On Passage of the Bill H.R. 5771	Yea	Dec 16, 2014
HR 83	On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 83)	Nay	Dec 13, 2014
HR 83	On the Point of Order H.R. 83	Nay	Dec 13, 2014
HR 83	On the Cloture Motion H.R. 83	Yea	Dec 13, 2014
HR 83	On the Motion to Proceed H.R. 83	Yea	Dec 13, 2014
HR 83	On the Motion to Proceed H.R. 83	Yea	Dec 13, 2014
HR 83	On the Motion to Proceed H.R. 83	Yea	Dec 13, 2014
HR 83	On the Motion to Proceed H.R. 83	Yea	Dec 13, 2014

Bill	Title	Status	Latest action
SRES 8	A resolution amending the Standing Rules of the Senate to provide for cloture to be invoked with less than a three-fifths majority after additional debate.	Returned to the Calendar. Under Over, Under the Rule.	Jan 27, 2011
S 174	HeLP America Act	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (text of measure as introduced: CR S229-239)	Jan 25, 2011
SRES 703	A resolution recognizing and honoring Bob Feller and expressing the condolences of the Senate to his family on his death.	Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S10703; text as passed Senate: CR S10703; text of measure as introduced: CR S10693-10694)	Dec 18, 2010
SRES 684	A resolution recognizing the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975.	Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8107-8108; text as passed Senate: CR S8108; text of measure as introduced: CR S8065-8066)	Nov 18, 2010
SRES 416	A resolution amending the Standing Rules of the Senate to provide for cloture to be invoked with less than a three-fifths majority after additional debate.	Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 111-706.	Sep 22, 2010
S 3686	Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011	Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 504.	Aug 2, 2010
S 3668	Medical-Legal Partnership for Health Act	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6525-6526)	Jul 29, 2010
SRES 591	A resolution recognizing and honoring the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.	Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Yea-Nay. 100 - 0. Record Vote Number: 217. (text: CR S6146-6147)	Jul 22, 2010

Bill	Title	Status	Signed on
S 2993	Students Before Profits Act	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.	Dec 10, 2014
S 2964	Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 2014	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.	Dec 2, 2014
S 864	Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act	Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 340.	Dec 2, 2014
S 2959	Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2014	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.	Nov 20, 2014
S 2955	A bill to revise the Inland Waterways Trust Fund financing rate.	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.	Nov 20, 2014
S 1011	Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.	Nov 19, 2014
S 2746	Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act	Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.	Nov 17, 2014
S 2621	Federal Duck Stamp Act of 2014	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.	Nov 17, 2014

Sections of the Congressional Record in which this member spoke or entered a written statement, as the Government Publishing Office tags them; floor business such as amendment texts is left out. Each links to the official Record.

Date	Record section	Where
Dec 16, 2014	Introductory Statement on S. 3020	Senate floor
Dec 16, 2014	Statement on bills introduced	Senate floor
Dec 13, 2014	Tribute to Adrienne Hallett	Senate floor
Dec 12, 2014	Tribute to Robert F. Heil, Jr.	Senate floor
Dec 12, 2014	Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act of 2014	Senate floor
Dec 11, 2014	Tribute to Zachary Schechter-Steinberg	Senate floor
Dec 11, 2014	Tribute to Derek Miller	Senate floor
Dec 11, 2014	Tribute to Brian Ahlberg	Senate floor

Committees

Current committees first, each with its role and years, and the subcommittees held now beneath it. Full history opens every role with its date and official record, and earlier subcommittee seats.

Earlier committees

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry CommitteeMember2001–2015

Full history

Committee	Role	Served	Record
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee	Member	Sep 9, 2009 to Jan 3, 2015	S.Res. 257 · End of the 113th Congress
	Chair	Jan 12, 2007 to Sep 9, 2009	S.Res. 27 · S.Res. 257
	Ranking Member	Jan 15, 2003 to Jan 3, 2007	S.Res. 20 · End of the 109th Congress
	Chair	Jul 10, 2001 to Jan 3, 2003	Congressional Record, S7417 · End of the 107th Congress
	Member	Jan 25, 2001 to Jul 10, 2001	Congressional Record, S558 · Congressional Record, S7417
Jobs, Rural Economic Growth and Energy Innovation	Member	Listed Oct 2011 to May 2014	Congressional Directory, Dec 2011
Commodities, Markets, Trade and Risk Management	Member	Listed Feb 2014 to Feb 2014	Congressional Directory, Feb 2014
Conservation, Forestry, and Natural Resources	Member	Listed Oct 2011 to Feb 2014	Congressional Directory, Dec 2011
Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Food and Agricultural Research	Member	Listed Oct 2011 to Feb 2014	Congressional Directory, Dec 2011

Appropriations CommitteeMember2001–2015

Full history

Committee	Role	Served	Record
Appropriations Committee	Member	Jan 25, 2001 to Jan 3, 2015	Congressional Record, S558 · End of the 113th Congress
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies	Chair	Listed Feb 2001 to Apr 2014	Hearing, Feb 2001
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies	Member	Listed Mar 2011 to Mar 2014	Hearing, Mar 2011
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs	Member	Listed Mar 2005 to Mar 2014	Congressional Directory, Sep 2006
Defense	Member	Listed Feb 2001 to Feb 2014	Hearing, Feb 2001
Energy and Water Development	Member	Listed Oct 2009 to Feb 2014	Congressional Directory, Dec 2009
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies	Member	Listed Feb 2007 to Feb 2014	Hearing, Feb 2007
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies	Member	Listed Apr 2001 to Apr 2008	Hearing, Apr 2001
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies	Member	Listed Feb 2005 to Mar 2008	Hearing, Feb 2005
Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies	Member	Listed Mar 2005 to Mar 2006	Hearing, Mar 2005
Foreign Operations	Member	Listed May 2001 to Apr 2004	Hearing, May 2001
VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies	Member	Listed Apr 2001 to Feb 2004	Hearing, Apr 2001
Department of Homeland Security	Member	Listed Apr 2003 to Feb 2004	Hearing, Apr 2003
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education	Member	Listed Sep 2001 to Jun 2003	Congressional Directory, Oct 2002
Energy and Water Development	Member	Listed Sep 2001 to Mar 2002	Congressional Directory, Oct 2002

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions CommitteeChair2001–2015

Full history

Committee	Role	Served	Record
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee	Chair	Sep 9, 2009 to Jan 3, 2015	S.Res. 257 · End of the 113th Congress
	Member	Jan 25, 2001 to Sep 9, 2009	Congressional Record, S558 · S.Res. 257
Primary Health and Aging	Ex Officio	Listed Nov 2014 to Nov 2014	Hearing, Nov 2014
Children and Families	Ex Officio	Listed Jun 2011 to Jul 2014	Hearing, Jun 2011
Employment and Workplace Safety	Ex Officio	Listed Apr 2014 to Jul 2014	Hearing, Apr 2014
Primary Health and Aging	Ex Officio	Listed May 2012 to Apr 2014	Hearing, May 2012
Employment and Workplace Safety	Ex Officio	Listed Mar 2005 to Nov 2013	Congressional Directory, Sep 2006
Primary Health and Aging	Ex Officio	Listed May 2011 to Sep 2011	Hearing, May 2011
Retirement and Aging	Member	Listed Mar 2007 to Sep 2007	Hearing, Mar 2007
Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness	Member	Listed Feb 2005 to Sep 2006	Hearing, Feb 2005
Education and Early Childhood Development	Member	Listed Mar 2005 to Jul 2006	Congressional Directory, Sep 2006
Children and Families	Member	Listed Jun 2003 to Jul 2004	Hearing, Jun 2003
Employment, Safety, and Training	Member	Listed Sep 2001 to Mar 2004	Congressional Directory, Oct 2002
Public Health	Member	Listed Sep 2001 to Oct 2002	Congressional Directory, Oct 2002

Small Business and Entrepreneurship CommitteeMember2001–2013

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Party, state and chamber are those of this member's most recent term. Bills and cosponsorships are held from the 107th Congress onwards and recorded votes from the 101st, so a member who served before those points will show fewer than they filed, or none. Committee service is held from the 107th Congress onwards, dated from the House and Senate resolutions and Congressional Record notices that seat and remove members. Subcommittee assignments are made inside each committee and carry no official date, so a subcommittee seat is shown from the first to the last printed hearing, Congressional Directory edition or official roster that lists the member. Vote counts cover roll calls tied to a bill; the chambers also vote on procedure and nominations, which are not listed here. Office, telephone and website are not shown for a member who has left, because the ones on file were theirs while serving. Records come from Congress.gov and the Biographical Directory of Congress.